Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawrence, KS
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories
Lawrence
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,834
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103
Thornton
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($247,300 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $720/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $35,230/yr
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,230 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Lawrence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lawrence
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawrence
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawrence
Median Home Value
$198k less
$247,300 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$35,230
$95,064 vs $59,834/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
41% lower
273.6 vs 461.5 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawrence, KS | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,300 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,834 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lawrence | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.4" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,103 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.7% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lawrence is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawrence wins 11 and Thornton wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Lawrence to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,300 vs $445,200 median home), income ($59,834 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawrence, KS and Thornton, CO are about 520 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.